Micro Sized Outboard Boat

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Chinewalker
    Member
    • Feb 2010
    • 40

    #1

    Micro Sized Outboard Boat

    Not quite a fast electric, but it goes!


    Some details...
    The boat was made by Fleet-Line in the early 1960s. Measures about 11-inches long. It originally came with twin plastic Johnson or Evinrude 40s on it. It also had a cruiser style superstructure. The hull and styling are very much like the Power Cats of the day. Measures about 11 inches long.

    The motor is a 1990s era toy Mercury made by the now defunt Nylint Toys. They are quite common and frequently can be had on eBay for under $25.00. I modified this one with several updates. First, the 260-sized motor that comes in the outboard is pretty weak and does not stand up well to even modest voltage upgrades. It has metallic brushes that simply melt down when you juice it with anything over 3V. I added carbon brushes out of a higher end motor to take care of that issue. Second, the gears on these motors do not mesh well. They're relatively substantial (for a toy) but they barely engage. So I shimmed the propshaft to get better engagement and take the slop out of the drivetrain. Third, I had to add a heavier coupling between the motor and driveshaft, as the original wasn't much more than plastic shrink tubing. I used some 1/32" I.D. bleeder hose with a 1/8" wall. The end result is a motor that stands up to 7.4V without cooking or breaking anything. The propeller is the stock prop that came with the toy.

    The speed control is a Nano sized model C-7 by Electrifly. Battery is a 7.4V 400 mah LiPo. Radio is by Tactic, and is a 2.4 GHZ transmitter and receiver (no antenna!!).

    - Scott
    Attached Files
  • tomstoys2
    Senior Member
    • Jun 2008
    • 581

    #2
    Nice job Scott,
    You got some pretty good speeds out of that little motor.
    Tom

    Comment

    • Simon.O.
      Fast Electric Addict!
      • Oct 2007
      • 1521

      #3
      The boat looks well suited to the setting.
      That water is real clear...where is that.

      I like the build and the work that you have done, FE or not it is cool !!
      See it....find the photos.....sketch it it....build it........with wood

      Comment

      • Chinewalker
        Member
        • Feb 2010
        • 40

        #4
        Thanks!

        I am in the 1000 Islands section of the St. Lawrence River. The zebra mussels we 'imported' from the Baltic Sea have one upside - they've really cleaned up the water! Plus, it's early season here and the bottom growth hasn't started to take over yet...

        Comment

        • sailr
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • Nov 2007
          • 6927

          #5
          Very impressive! Great job!
          Mini Cat Racing USA
          www.minicatracingusa.com

          Comment

          • pribco
            Senior Member
            • Feb 2011
            • 109

            #6
            The 1000 Islands-I am so jealous I could just spit--

            Spent much of my misspent youth in the 50s terrorizing the small mouth population from a wooden flat bottom boat with a 5 hp Johnson.

            Home base was either Oak Point or Goose Bay just a jump up river from Alex Bay.

            Have gone back a few times since-last time about 6 years ago--fishing has suffered because of the zebras-either a nutrition or visability issue--On a calm day could see bottom in 25 feet water.

            Anyway-you live in my favorite place on earth.

            Bill
            If you step on my tail, you had best make plans to deal with my teeth!!!

            Comment

            • tomstoys2
              Senior Member
              • Jun 2008
              • 581

              #7
              Originally posted by pribco
              The 1000 Islands-I am so jealous I could just spit--

              Spent much of my misspent youth in the 50s terrorizing the small mouth population from a wooden flat bottom boat with a 5 hp Johnson.

              Home base was either Oak Point or Goose Bay just a jump up river from Alex Bay.

              Have gone back a few times since-last time about 6 years ago--fishing has suffered because of the zebras-either a nutrition or visability issue--On a calm day could see bottom in 25 feet water.

              Anyway-you live in my favorite place on earth.

              Bill
              I agree with you Bill, my favorite place on earth as well.
              Scott is one lucky guy with some really cool toys!

              I spend most of our summers on Chippewa Bay(between Oak Pt. and Goose bay).

              Tom

              Comment

              Working...